KARACHI, 1 December 2006 — Brian Lara and his remaining batsmen will have to do something more than extraordinary today on the last day if they have to win this third and final Test against Pakistan to square the series. Pakistan are leading the series 1-0.
Skipper Inzamam ul-Haq set a difficult target for the visitors — 444 runs — to win in an hour plus a minimum of 90 overs play on the last day. The record for a team chasing over 400 runs in the fourth innings and winning is incidentally held by West Indies who scored 418 runs to win the fourth Test against Australia by three wickets played in Antigua in 2003.
Pakistan rode merrily to 399 for 6 in their second innings when the declaration came, about an hour before close on the fourth day. The stars of Pakistan innings were opener Mohammad Hafeez who played a careful knock of 104 and this year’s run machine, Mohammad Yousuf, who made 124 while the Pakistan skipper, in poor form since his return from England tour, posting an unbeaten 58.
In reply, West Indies made 39 in their second innings but lost both openers Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga within 17 runs. Lara and his vice-captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan held the innings together before the umpires stopped play due to bad light. Hafeez and Yousuf resumed Pakistan’s second innings at overnight 130 for two. Yousuf who has already added quite a few feathers to his cap in this series went on to achieve yet another landmark — move past Sir Vivian Richards’ record of highest scorer in a calendar year set in 1976 and then went on to slam his ninth Test century of 2006 and overall 23rd in Test cricket.
When the day started, all eyes were on Yousuf, and fittingly, he dominated the day, scoring 84 out of the 141 runs added for the third wicket with Hafeez today. However Yousuf was extremely lucky to survive twice during his landmark innings being dropped by Ganga at 68 and then by Jerome Taylor, of his own bowling, at 87.
Inzamam’s belated declaration was the most controversial topic debated by experts and commentators. But as was mentioned in these columns yesterday (Thursday) the Pakistan camp was bent upon playing safe. They knew that if West Indies could chase 418 and beat Australia any target less than that involved risk of Pakistan losing the Test and drawing the series. Not only Inzamam but the country’s cricket management badly needs a series win before they go to South Africa next month to boost the moral of the players.
With a 1-0 lead Inzamam delayed the declaration which was quite obvious after Yousuf was out at 365 (the lead at that time was 409) the Pakistan skipper decided to continue.
With a 444-run target and eight West Indies wicket remaining Pakistan know that the visitors have no option but to play for a draw.
